godsal



- (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

P. T. GODSAL.

BREEOH LOADING SMALL ARM.

Patented Sept. 1'7, 1889.

Wi ness as cam/am (No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

P. T. GODSAL. BREEGH LOADING SMALL ARM.

Patented Sept. 17, 1889.

7188806 MAM UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHILIP THOMAS GODSAL, OF ETON, COUNTY OF BUCKINGHAM, ENGLAND.

BREECH-LOADING SMALL-ARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Fatent No. 411,145, dated September 1'7, 1889.

Application filed November 15, 1888. $erial No. 290,874. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- 1

Be it known that I, PHILIP THOMAS GOD- sAL, of Eton, in the county of Buckingham, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Breech-Loading SmalL Arms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to breech-loading small-arms, and combines the advantages of the systems known, respectively, as blockaction and -bolt action, insuring the strength, security, and efficiency of the former with the celerity and repeating power of the latter. The action is manipulated in a similar manner to a bolt-gun-namely, by a partial turn of a lever, which unlocks the block, and then a draw or slide back of some length.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation,partly in section, of a breechaction constructed according to my invention, the action being closed and the cartridge fired. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the action open ready to insert a cartridge. Fig. 3 is a crosssection on the line 1 2, with the obturator removed; and Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line 3 4, both of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a side view of the saddle-block, and Fig. 6 is a rear end view of the same. Fig. 7 is a side view, and Fig. 8 a front end view, of the plug or fillingpiece which closes the rear end of the saddleblock. Fig. 9 is a plan view of stock-bar, saddle-block, and breech-piece. Fig. 10 is a side view, Fig. 11 a front View, and Fig. 12 a back view, with lever handle, of the trueblock or obturator, Fig. 13 showing the same in a different position. Fig. 1a is a side view, Fig. 15 is a planview, and Fig. 16 a rear end view, of the cartridge-extractor. Fig. 17 is a side view, Fig. 18 an end view, Fig. 19 a plan View, and Fig. 20 a front view, of the firingpin or striker.

A is the barrel, and B the trigger-plate, which is secured to the action by two screws B B, which thus hold the fixed parts of the action securely in position in the stock.

0 is what I term a stock=bar, which is preferably formed in one with the breechD for the barrel. This bar ext-ends some distance to the rear from the breech D, and is made at its lower edge with a lateral rib, fin, or projection O, in the upper face of which is alongitudinal groove 0 (See Figs. 3, 4, and 9.) The upper face of this bar maybe curved and forms a surface on which the breech-block slides, and on either side are angular or other suitably-shaped projections or grooves 0 the object of which will be more fully described hereinafter. The action of this stock-bar C will be readily seen by reference to-Figs. 3 and 4E.

The front end of the stock-bar C may be recessed or cut away transversely, as shown at 0 Fig. 2, so as to leave a shoulder; or it may be formed with a shoulder, which forms part of the means for locking the breech-block or obturator to the breech D, as will hereinafter be more fully described.

The breech D, which screws onto the barrel A, is formed with a central opening at rear and several dovetailed or other suitablyshaped ways or notches D, thus leaving projecting shoulders or lugs D D which will complete the locking device. The end of the barrel and the shoulders or lugs D will form an annular groove, in which radial projections on the true-block or obturator can rotate. It will be obvious that the stock-bar G and breech D need not necessarily have any connection the one with the other; but in this case the upper surface of the stock-bar must be arranged to form a rearward continuation of the lower lug of the breech D.

E is the true breechblock or obturator, which consists of a solid cylinder E, of suitable diameter, having at its fore-end lateral or radial projections E, near its rear end a hand-lever E and in rear of the hand-lever a circular groove E The rear face of the cylinder has an inclined portion or ratchettooth E and the cylinder is bored centrally with a conical hole to receive the firing pin or striker.

The form of the obturator is more particularly shown in the detail views, Figs. 10, 11, 12, and 13, though it may also be seen in Figs. 1 and 2. y

F is the saddle-block or carrier, which consists of a hollow cylinder having externally on the under side downwardly-projecting pieces F. At the front end the lower part of the cylinder is cut away for a short distance, the

side pieces F are grooved vertically, and the block is formed with an internal rim or lip F (see Fig. 6,) which, as seen from the front, will be fork-shaped. This rim or lip lies in the groove E of the obturator E when the latteris inserted in the fork, and the obturator faces of the pieces F are formed with angular or V-shaped recesses, as shown in Fig. 6, so as to correspond with and fit onto the stock-bar C, which is of similar form externally.

F is a projection in the forward portion of the part F of the saddle-block, which is intended to actuate the extractor, as will be presently explained.

F is a cylindrical plug or filling-piece, which is intended to close up the rear end of the saddle-block F and also to serve as an abutment for the rear end of the mainspring G. This plug is secured in position by a screw F which passes through the block F. A rectangular chamber F is made longitudinally in the plug to receive the rear end of the striker.

G is the striker, and the mainspring G is mounted thereon and bears against a collar or shoulder G forming part of the striker. The front half G of the striker is cylindrical, as shown, while the rear half G* is rectangular, being cut away on its upper side. The striker thus formedwill be in one piece, and the mainspring may be: placed upon it without difliculty. striker is formed with a downward projection G against which the sear catches. This projection works in a slot formed in the bottom of the saddle-block, the end of this slot being closed bya small projection F on the plug F. The front face of the collar G is formed with an incline or ratchet-tooth G which fits against the inclined part F. of the obturator when the parts are in their normal position. (See Fig. 1.)

H is the cartridge-extractor, which consists of a block H, provided with an upwardly and inwardly inclined extension piece or claw H, which lies behind the rim of the cartridge when in place, and a tail-piece 11 the rear end of which is formed with a shoulder or stop H The block H has a notch H into which takes the point of a pivoted catch on the under side of the lever E (See Figs. 4, 12,- and 13.)

The extractor lies by the side of the stockbar 0 and works in the groove 0 formed in the lateral rib or projection O, and it is also held in position by the part F of the saddleblock F, which incloses the part H of the extractor. (See Fig. 4.)

When putting the action together, the extractor-block H is first placed in position by The rear end of the the side of the stock-bar O. is next placed .in the saddle-block, with the lever at the angle shown at Fig. 13, and the saddle-blockF is slid onto the stock-bar with its rim F in the groove of the obturator E and its projection F in front of the shoulder H of the extractor. The obturator E is thus held in place between the saddle-block and the upper surface of the stock-bar and the extractor between the part F and the side of the stock-bar. The parts are pushed home and locked. The striker and spring are next inserted in the saddle-block and the plug F is secured in place by the screw F The extractor may be provided with a light spring to return it to its normal position within the breech.

The mode of operating the action is as follows: The cartridge has been fired and the parts are in the position shown at Fig. 1 that is to say, the hand-lever is horizontal, as seen in Figs. 4t and 12, and the projections E of the obturator are behind the shoulders D of the breech D, the action being thereby locked to the barrel. It is desired to open the breech in order to withdrawthe cartridgecase and reload. The lever E is pushed up into the position shown at Fig. 13. This movement rocks the obturator E and brings the projections E inline with the ways D of the breech D, so that the obturator can be drawn back by the handle E. This axial movement of the obturator also brings two of the projections E on opposite sides of the stock-bar O, as will be understood on reference to Fig. 13. Thus the obturator when drawn back cannot be moved axially to bring it to its normal position until it is pushed quite home into the breech D. By-the same axial movement the inclined portion E at the rear end of the obturator slides on the corresponding part G of the striker and pushes back the striker into the position shown at Fig. 2, so that the point of the striker will beclear of the cartridge while the block is being unlocked from the barrel, thereby rendering the fire-arm absolutely safe from discharge until the action is relocked. At the proper moment during the rearward movement of the saddle-block F the projection F on the inside of the part F com es into contact with the shoulder H of the ex tractor H, and the extractor is drawn backwith the cartridge-case. As'the saddle-block will be drawn back wit-h some force, a sharp blow will be given to the extractor, which will overcome any slight tendency of the cartridge-case to stick. Should, however, the case stick tight, a succession of blows may be given to the extractor, which in most cases will have the desired effect. WVhen the fresh cartridge is inserted in the breech, the lever E is pushed forward, and with it the obturator and saddle-block. The projections E enter the ways D of the breech D, and when right home the obturator is moved axially, by which means the projec-v tions E are brought behind the shoulders D The obturator E 7 The sear and the trigger arrangement may be of any well-known and convenient kind, and a suitable stop will be provided to prevent the action being drawn out of the arm when reloading.

Having now described my invention, I declare that what I claim is 1. The breech-action for small-arms herein shown and described, and consisting of a stock-bar 0, having a lateral rib C, a lateral projection 0 and a recess at its upper part and a flat or curved upper surface, a hol low block D, having ways D and projections D and an internal thread, a cylinder I E, having radial lugs E, handle E groove E and an incline E on the rear face of the cylinder, a hollow cylinder F, having external downward projections F, rim F, the front portion of the said cylinder F being cut away and forked, projections F and a filling-plug F a striker having a cylindrical portion G and a rectangular portion G a collar G with an external inclined face G a strikingpoint at its front end and a downward projection G at the rear end,a cartridge-extractor consisting of a block H, an upwardly and inwardly projecting claw H, a long stem H and a stop H all combined and operating as herein shown and described.

2. In a breech-action for small-arms, the combination, with the breech portion D of the barrel, of the stock-bar O, the upper face of which forms a rearward continuation of the outer edge of the lower lug of the breech portion D, a saddle-block F, adapted to fit onto and slide upon the stock-bar, and a breech-block E in front of said saddle-block, all as and for the purpose set forth.

combination of a stock-bar O, formingarearward continuation of the lower lug of the breech of the barrel and having a 1aterallyextending rib, an extractor H, of the form shown, arranged to slide on the said rib, and a saddle-block F, formed with downwardly-projectin g parts which overlie the extractor and hold it in position, and which also serve to actuate the extractor at the proper time, as and for the purpose set forth.

4:. In a breech-action for small-arms, the safety arrangement herein shown and described, and consisting of a cylindricalblock E, having at one end a ratchet-tooth E and near its other end a handle E, a striker G, formed near its front end with a collar, the outer face of which has a ratchet-tooth G a mainspring G in rear of the collar, and a saddle-block F, all combined and operating as shown and described.

PHILIP THOMAS GODSAL.

Witnesses:

W K. WHITE, G. H. G.MA1'H1EsoN.

3. In a breech-action for small-arms, the 

